The Silence of the Girls

The formidable Greek army has been laying siege to the ancient city of Troy for ten years, and it is still waging a brutal conflict for Helen, a lady who has been kidnapped. Another lady, Briseis, waits to see how the conflict turns out in the Greek camp. She ruled over a nearby country in Troy until Achilles, the greatest warrior in Greece, attacked her city and slew her siblings and husband. As a prize of war, Briseis becomes Achilles' concubine. She must swiftly adapt to endure a drastically different existence as one of the numerous captured women who work for the Greek army.

She is stuck between the two most powerful Greeks when Agamemnon, the harsh political commander of the Greek armies, desires Briseis for himself. In protest, Achilles abstains from battle, and the Greeks start to fall behind their Trojan rivals. Briseis, who is a sharp observer and unflinchingly cool to the everyday horrors of war, finds herself in a unique situation where she can watch the two men leading the Greek army in what will ultimately be their decisive battle, which will determine not only the fate of Briseis's people but also the fate of the ancient world as a whole.

Briseis is only one of hundreds of women who are living behind the scenes in this conflict; the others are forgotten by history, including the nurses, prostitutes, slaves, and women who dress the dead. Pat Barker vividly depicts the tumultuous atmosphere of the Greek camp with stunning historical accuracy and beautiful writing. From Briseis's point of view, her depictions of well-known mythological figures and tales are rich and intricate, full of fresh insights. Barker has been studying the effects of war on people's lives for decades, and her most recent work is nothing short of amazing.